Construction for loading automobiles in freight-cars.



A. COPONY.

CONSTRUCTION FOR LOADING AUTQMOBILES IN FREIGHT CARS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1916.

1,186,553. PatentedJunel3,1916

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CONSTRUCTION FOR LOADING AUTOMOBILES IN FREIGHT CARS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 10. I916.

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ALFRED COIPONY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WM. H. SPICER.

or DETROIT,

MICHIGAN.

CONSTRUCTION FOR LOADING AUTQMOBILES IN F-RIGl-IT-CARS.

menses.

Application filed April 10,

to auton'iobile freight ears and refers more particularly to a new and improved construction for loading automobiles in freight ears, the automobiles being placed one above another.

The salient objects of the invention are to provide a construction whereby two tiers of automobile can be conveniently located in cars having such a small clearance that the present methods of loading will only permit one layer of automobiles to be loaded therein: to provide a simple and rigid construction in which the suspension elements for the automobiles are rigidly braced by triangular braces in two or more planes; to provide a construction in which the triangular bracing above referred to can be utilized and the apex of at least one of the triangles changed in position so as to a d inst the automobile upward; to provide means for making this adjustment after the automobile is in place upon the suspension means, thus allowing a block and tackle to he used for raising the automobile toward the car roof and permitting the automobile to be lowered sufficiently to give clearance in removing the block and tackle; to provide means for suspending automobiles in either metal or wooden cars and in general to provide an improved and simplified construction of the character referred to. The invention further resides in such features of construction and arrangements and combinations of parts as will more fully hereinafte' appeari Tn the drawings: Figure .1. is a crosssection showingthe manner of suspending the automobile. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the suspension members shown in Fig. '1. Fig. is a fragmentary 'ierspectrve view showing a slightly modified construe tion of suspension member. Fig. l is an end elevation of a still further modifimition.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 113, 1916.

' i on or" 1916. SerralN some. Cl n l M B fi hter til in Fig. 5 is a transverse view of the support mg member shown in Fig. l.

in loading automobiles in freight cars having a relatively small clearance dilliculty has been encountered in getting more than one layer of automobiles into the freight car. Where the automobiles are raised l a block and tackle it is customary to permit the automobile'to drop back a sufficient amount to permit the removal of. the block and tackle. The present invention contemplates an arrangement whereby the. automobile after being lowered to per mit of the removal of the block and tackle -an be adjusted upward toward the roof so as to permit of a second automobile being placed beneath the suspended one. In suspending. the automobile it is necessary to provide a very rigid support and one that is properly braced.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and l have employed a novel arrangen'ient wherein a triangular suspension member A having sides l3 and is provided with a U bolt l) adapted to be clamped over the axle E of the automobile. There is of course a pair of these suspension members for both the front and rear axles of the fllItOTflObllLS. The block and tackle arrangement F is employed for raising the automobile up toward the roof of the freight car and when so positioned the suspension members are attached as follows: The upper ends of the rods (1 are hooked into the eye bolts G and the lower end of the rod extended through a hole H in the cross bar H of the triangm lar brace A.

Secured to the side wall of thefreight car is a cross brace L. there being one of these eross braces for each triangular brace and the ends A and A of the triangular brace extend under the brace L. The nut M is then tightened up on the rod G sufficiently to hold the triangular brace in the, position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. lo removing the block and tackle. an X- shaped support N bearing against the brake band housing and resting on the floor of the car may be employed for holding the automobile temporarily. The nut hl is then tightened up on the thrauled end of the rod f} until each of the triangular braces tion to the axle.

lines in Fig. 1. The arrangement of the triangular brace and the supporting rods Gr which is connected to the cross bar H gives a triangular bracing effect in both vertical and horizontal planes so that the automobile when once suspended, is rigidly braced in both directions.

vIn the construction shown in Fig. 3 the lower ends of the main triangular brace are toe-nailed to the floor of the carand an auxiliary brace run from the head of the planes and adjustment to raise the apex or supporting part of the triangular brace after the automobile is in position, are permitted.

In themodification shown in Figs. at and 5 the supporting rods are omitted and the ends It and R of the sides S and S of the trial'igular bralce S form a direct connec- A transverse bolt T 'eX- tends through-the sides S and S and can be tightened up to securely lock the ends in bracing position between the brake bandsU oft-he automobile and a large washer V tempora rily placed in the axle. here this construction is employed the lower end V of one of the sides of the triangle is first toe-nailed to the floor and then the other side shoved over l)0\ ard it until theautomobile is raised as far as possible toward the ceiling. The end V of the side S is then nailed to the floor and the nut on the bolt T tightened up so that the automobile will be securely'locked from movement in either direction. -Moreover in all cases there is suiiicient clearance embodiments of my invention it is obvious that numerous changes can be made in the details of construction Without departing from the scope of my invention. I therefore do not desire to limit the latter except as specified in the appended claims.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination .with a freight car, of

means for suspending an automobile therein, comprising a triangular brace member forming a triangular brace in both vertical, and horizontal planes.

2. The combination with a freight car, of means for suspending an automobile there in, comprising a triangular brace member forming a triangular brace in both vertical and horizontal planes, and means for raising the apex of one of the triangles after the automobile is in place.

3. The combination with a freight car, of means for suspending an automobile therein, comprising asuspension member having a triangular portion, meansfor securing the automobile to the triangle andmeans for raising that portion of the triangle toward the roof of the car while the automobile is supported on the suspension member.

4. The combination with a freight car, of means for suspending an automobile therein to provide 'clearance for a second automobile beneath the first, said means comprising a triangular brace member and means for changing the position of the triangle to adjust the automobile toward the roof of the car.

ture.

ALFRED COPONY.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signa- 

